John Engen

John Engen is an American politician and journalist who has served as mayor of Missoula, Montana since 2006.

John Engen
50th Mayor of Missoula
Assumed office
January 3, 2006
Preceded byMike Kadas
Personal details
Born1964 (age 56–57)
Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Montana (BA)
ProfessionJournalist, politician

Early life and education

Engen was born in Missoula in 1964. He attended public schools in Missoula before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the University of Montana.

Career

Before serving as mayor, Engen served on the Missoula City Council, worked as a journalist and newspaper editor, and operated a small business.[1][2][3]

In 2013, Engen and the City of Missoula initiated a legal process to use eminent domain to require the city's privately held water utility be sold to the city.[4] In June 2015, after a 10-day trial, the Fourth Judicial District Court found that the City of Missoula had the right to use eminent domain to acquire Mountain Water Co.[5] The decision was appealed to the Montana Supreme Court, which issued an opinion upholding the district court order on August 2, 2016.[6][7]

During the 2008 presidential election campaign, Engen endorsed Barack Obama.[8]

In 2015 Engen was criticized after the city council approved adding morbid obesity surgeries to city health insurance coverage. At the time Engen refused all comment to local media on his involvement or benefit from the change.[9] Later that year, Engen again refused to speak to the press but released a letter to the community stating he had undergone bariatric surgery on October 19 and was recuperating at home. He confirmed his insurance had paid all but $3,200 of the surgery costs, but refuted critics by saying his surgery would "not add to anyone's tax bill."[10]

In October 2016, Engen took a month off work to enter a rehabilitation program for alcohol addiction.[11]

Personal life

His wife Tracy owns and operates a travel agency in Missoula.[3]

References
  1. Engen for Mayor | About
  2. Szpaller, Keila. "Engen re-elected to 3rd term as Missoula mayor". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  3. "John Engen, Missoula mayor". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  4. Szpaller, Keila. "Missoula files for eminent domain takeover of water system". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  5. Kidston, Martin (15 June 2015). "Missoula wins legal fight to take over Mountain Water Co". missoulian.com. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  6. "Montana Supreme Court Case Public View Docket Search". dataportal.mt.gov.
  7. Szpaller, Keila. "Montana Supreme Court clears way for city's Mountain Water purchase". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  8. Missoulian, CHELSI MOY of the. "Missoula Mayor John Engen makes national news with Obama endorsementPosted on March 29". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  9. Szpaller, Keila. "City of Missoula adds morbid obesity benefit to health plan; mayor declines to discuss". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  10. NBC Montana: Local - "Missoula Mayor Recovering from Bariatric Surgery"
  11. Friesen, Peter (28 November 2016). "Engen announces alcoholism treatment, re-election bid in open letter". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
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